Northern Lights in Russia: Best Places and Seasons to See Aurora Borealis

The Magic of the Polar Night: Where to See the Northern Lights in Russia

The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, are among the most breathtaking natural phenomena on Earth and can be observed in polar regions. The night sky lights up with waves of green, purple, pink, and blue — the result of interactions between solar wind particles and Earth’s magnetic field.

The Northern Lights cannot be seen on a fixed schedule, but their activity can be forecast using sources such as Aurora Hunters, NOAA, and apps like Aurora Forecast and Aurora Alerts.

In Russia, Aurora sightings are possible in northern regions, with the best season running from November to February, during the polar night. We have selected 11 top locations across 6 regions that offer excellent chances to witness this extraordinary phenomenon.

Teriberka, Murmansk Region

The Kola Peninsula is the most accessible and popular region in Russia for Northern Lights viewing. The season lasts from November to March, while the polar night continues for 40–45 days. Murmansk is easily reached by plane, train, or by car via the Kola Highway.

Due to light pollution in Murmansk, it is recommended to travel outside the city — for example, to Teriberka, located 120 km away in the tundra on the coast of the Barents Sea.

The village is actively developing and offers comfortable hotels, Arctic cuisine restaurants (stroganina, reindeer meat, sea urchins, scallops), sea trips with fishing and whale watching, a ship graveyard, the Bataraysky Ice Waterfall, and filming locations from the movie Leviathan.

Where to stay:

• Arctic Brewery Hotel — from $95 per night
• Teriberka Hotel by Eco Home — from $125 per night
• Mini-hotel Nord Lys — from $185 per night

Flights to Murmansk

Kirovsk, Murmansk Region

Located in the Khibiny Mountains, Kirovsk is an excellent destination for Northern Lights hunting. In winter, guided snowmobile and off-road tours are organized far from city lights. The area has a nearby airport, and the town of Apatity offers a railway station.

Kirovsk is also known as a ski resort:

• Bolshoy Vudyavr
• Kukisvumchorr

After skiing, visitors can enjoy the “Plateau” panoramic restaurant, the Snow Village, and the “Mysterious Forest” art park.

Where to stay:

• “Na Severe” glamping — from $80 per night
• Powder Hotel 3★ — from $90 per night
• Lesnaya Cottage — from $240 per night

Flights to Kirovsk

Malye Karely and Golubino, Arkhangelsk Region

Malye Karely is located just 25 km from Arkhangelsk and is famous for its open-air wooden architecture museum. In winter, the area hosts theatrical excursions, ice skating, snow slides, and active outdoor entertainment.

Golubino is a quiet village on the Pinega River featuring a cultural landscape park, bathhouse complex, ski routes, and northern cuisine workshops.

Where to stay:

• Malye Karely Hotel 4★ — from $65 per night
• Yelki Holiday Base — from $75 per night
• Golubino Park Hotel 3★ — from $95 per night

Flights to Arkhangelsk

Severodvinsk, Arkhangelsk Region

An industrial city on the coast of the White Sea. For the best Aurora views, it is recommended to leave the city limits. The Northern Lights here often appear in vivid green and emerald shades with characteristic flickering.

Additional attractions include Yagry Island, winter beaches of the White Sea, and a local history museum featuring nuclear submarine exhibits.

Where to stay:

• ANRO Boutique Hotel — from $52 per night
• Yandova Guba Glamping — from $80 per night
• Polyana Holiday Base — from $85 per night

Flights to Arkhangelsk

Belomorsk and Kem, Republic of Karelia

Northern Karelia lies within Russia’s Arctic zone and offers frequent Aurora sightings from November to February, sometimes even in October.

Regional highlights:

• Belomorsk Petroglyphs (6,000 years old)
• White Sea–Baltic Canal
• Voitsky Padun Waterfall
• Wooden churches of Pomor villages

Where to stay:

• Lopskiy Bereg — from $60 per night
• Yuma Park Hotel 3★ — from $62 per night
• Gandvik Hotel 3★ — from $67 per night

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Naryan-Mar, Nenets Autonomous Okrug

One of the best regions in Russia for observing the Aurora, with up to 200 nights per year featuring Northern Lights — from September to April. Minimal light pollution allows sightings even within the city.

Tours are often organized to the Pechora River and to the reindeer herding settlement of Nelmin-Nos.

Where to stay:

• 67 Parallel Hotel — from $65 per night
• Fregat v Pustozersk — from $87 per night
• Zapolyarnaya Stolitsa — from $165 per night



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Vorkuta, Komi Republic

The Northern Lights season here runs from September to April. Visitors are also drawn to abandoned settlements of the Vorkuta Ring and excursions to Yugyd Va National Park and the Pechora-Ilych Nature Reserve, both UNESCO-listed sites.

Where to stay:

• Apartments — from $48 per night
• Vorkuta Hotel 2★ — from $53 per night

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Norilsk and Dudinka, Krasnoyarsk Krai

The Taimyr region is one of the most reliable places in Russia for Northern Lights viewing. During the polar night (late November to mid-January), Aurora sightings are possible almost daily, just 5–10 minutes outside the city.

Tours are organized to the Putorana Plateau, the Valyok River, and the village of Khatanga.

Where to stay:

• Sever Apart-Hotel — from $95 per night
• Talnakh Hotel 3★ — from $145 per night
• Severgrand Hotel 3★ — from $260 per night

Flights to Norilsk

Seeing the Northern Lights is not just a trip, but a rare experience that stays with you for a lifetime.

To increase your chances of witnessing the Aurora:

✈️ book flights in advance,

🏔 choose accommodation in remote locations,

❄️ consider guided tours outside the city — this significantly increases the likelihood of success.

If you have long dreamed of seeing Aurora Borealis with your own eyes, now is the perfect time to start planning your journey.